Cruz cops 2 Asian 14-U championships

FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD Monica Therese Cruz topped the girls’ singles and doubles in the Asian 14-under tennis championship week 1 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, over the weekend.

Cruz, who has dominated her age-group the past several months, captured the girls’ singles title without dropping a single game, completing the feat with a 6-0, 6-0 mastery of Aadhya Chala of India in the finals.

En route to the title, she also won at love over local bets Janali Manamperi, Tarah Greig and Natasha Munaweera.

She then paired with Sri Lankan Anya Gunewardena to also rule the doubles event after beating local girl Sathi Siyara Silva and Chala, 6-2, 6-1, in the finals.

She and Gunewardena had earlier downed Oshini Herath of Sri Lanka and Ridah Nayeemullah of India, 6-0, 6-0, and hometown bets Prabbudhi Perera and Anika Senevirante, 6-4, 6-2.

Cruz, who has moved from Naga City to Quezon City in a bid to focus on her career,  will also see action in the WTA Future Stars in Singapore next month. Marc Anthony Reyes